SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Union College women's basketball team outscored William Smith College 17-3 in the fourth quarter to improbably force overtime, and then put up 12 points in the extra session to pull out a huge 67-60 (OT) victory on Friday night at Viniar Athletic Center.
 
The game was a huge one in the postseason race for Union (9-12, 7-8 Liberty League), as the win puts the Dutchwomen 2.5 games clear of Clarkson University for the sixth and final playoff spot with three games left. Union is also a half-game behind Rochester Institute of Technology (7-7) for fifth place and just a game back of fourth-place Skidmore College (8-7).
 
After setting a new career high in scoring on Tuesday, senior Darby Leid did it again for the Dutchwomen on Friday, hitting 7-of-12 shots from the field to finish with a game-high 24 points. Classmate Amber Raisner poured in 18 points, while juniors Megan Lee (10 points, eight rebounds) and Olivia Pachla (eight rebounds, five blocks) continued to contribute in the paint.
 
Things did not look promising for Union when William Smith led by 19 points (50-31) entering the final minute of the third quarter. However, Union started its comeback with a modest 7-2 run to end the period, punctuated by a Leid three at the buzzer to make the score 52-38.
 
After the teams traded baskets early in the fourth, Union took over the contest defensively, limiting the Herons to a single free throw and 0-for-13 shooting from the field over the final 8:20. Lee got the run going with back-to-back buckets, followed by a Raisner transition layup to get within single digits (54-46) with 6:50 on the clock. Back-to-back Raisner baskets followed by a Lee jumper got the home team within a possession, followed by a Leid layup that knotted the score at 54 with 3:23 to go.
 
Both teams managed just one free throw the rest of the way, as the defenses made life difficult for the opposition. Union shot 47.1 percent (8 of 17) in the crucial fourth frame, helping the Dutchwomen mount their comeback.
 
The home team hit only one field goal in overtime, but the team hit 10-of-13 shots from the free throw line to put the game away. After a Heron bucket, Lee grabbed an offensive rebound and converted an old-fashioned three-point play to put Union up 58-57. The teams went scoreless for the next 1:45 until a Raisner free throw added to the lead, and then Leid followed with a steal and two freebies to make it a 61-57 game with 1:37 on the clock.
 
The defensive pressure continued when Raisner forced another turnover and hit one free throw, and the duo of Leid and junior Kendall Degenhardt combined to hit 5-of-6 from the line in the final minute to salt the game away.
 
Union cooled off after hitting 8-of-14 shots in the first quarter, finishing the game at 38.7 percent (24 of 62) from the field, while William Smith ended the night at 32.8 percent (22 of 67) from the field.
 
Union will close out the home regular-season schedule tomorrow, when the Dutchwomen host Senior Day before another crucial Liberty League matchup with RIT beginning at 2 p.m.